Group honours rights activist, Inibehe Effiong for tackling abuses during Akpabio’s govt

By Nse Peter

A non-governmental organization in Nigeria has inducted a renowned human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong into its Hall of Fame.

Mr. Inibehe Effiong, a legal practitioner from Akwa Ibom State, is the Convener of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders in Nigeria.

He is the first person to be inducted into cpfr Hall of Fame.

The Committee for Political Freedom & Responsibility said in a statement released on Saturday that it was honouring Mr. Effiong for his pro-democracy activities and his campaign for the rights of ordinary people.

The group cited specific instance where Effiong joined forces with others to free a young man who was arrested and detained for months under trump up charges by the immediate past administration of Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State.

“Inibehe Effiong, together with other pro-democracy activists within and outside Akwa Ibom State and the family of a slain politician in the state, Mr. Albert Ukpanah, succeeded in freeing Mr. Odudu Ukpanah who was falsely accused of killing his father and was incarcerated for several months by Godswill Akpabio’s regime,” cpfr said in a statement signed by its Co-ordinator, Mr. Anthony Bassey.

“For giving voice to the voiceless, for sacrificing personal comfort and putting his life at risk for the sake of freedom and democracy, Mr. Inibehe Effiong is hereby inducted into in the cpfr Hall of Fame,” the statement said.

The group described Effiong as having an enviable history of holding Nigerian leaders accountable for their actions, and being passionately involved in the struggle for democracy and the rights of ordinary Nigerians since when he was a law student in the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Think Akwa Ibom! couldn't immediately reach Effiong for his reaction.